Illinois State University is looking to expand housing and dining facilities to match its growing incoming classes.
ISU has sent out a request for vendors to bid on writing the long-term master plan. The deadline was initially set for 2 p.m. June 10, but has since been extended to June 18. `
The project description envisions a three-phase assessment of housing and dining operations.
Phases I and II will consist of an assessment of the current conditions and operations of residential facilities on campus. The goal of phase III is to produce a 10-year master plan for both housing and dining at ISU.
According to the proposal, the objective of the plan is to create strategic road maps that align with ISU’s long-term goals of ensuring financial sustainability, operational efficiency, and enhanced student experiences.
The plan to add new housing and dining on campus has been ongoing for years. The university's last effort to add housing came in in 2019 when it selected Rhode Island developer Gilbane to lead a project that would have opened in fall 2021.
That project was later scrapped partially due to “significant increases in construction costs,” according to ISU president Aondover Tarhule.
Last fall, nearly 4,300 first-year students came to ISU, its largest incoming class in history, adding to the housing crunch.
Double dorm rooms were made into triples, triples were turned into quads, and some lounge rooms were converted into rooms to house students.
It's now been more than a decade since the university last added new student housing at Cardinal Court.
